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Diabetes Basics

A person has diabetes when their blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, is too high. The most common types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is when your body does not make insulin. It is usually diagnosed in young adults and children. People with this type of diabetes must take insulin every day to stay alive. Type 2 diabetes is when a person’s body does not use or make insulin well. It is usually diagnosed in middle aged and older people. Gestational diabetes develops in some women during pregnancy.

About one out of every eleven Americans has diabetes. It can cause blindness, heart disease, kidney failure and lower-extremity amputations. In the United States, it is the seventh leading cause of death.

Symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, increased urination, increased hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, numbness or tingling in the feet or hands, sores that do not heal and unexplained weight loss.

If you think you think you may have diabetes, you should contact your healthcare provider for follow up and possible testing.

It is possible to live well with diabetes with proper blood sugar monitoring and control. Our caregivers under the supervision of our Care Managers can assist clients managing diabetes through medication administration, glucose testing and other services.

If you want to read more about diabetes and how to manage it, the following websites are excellent resources: